WSR Locos- Underpowered?

leezer3 · Post by **leezer3** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 11:48 pm

Hiya guys,
I'm twiddling with sticking the WSR Manor & 117 into Paddington- Penzance route, but as of the mo, they seem to be incredibly underpowered- For example, I'm unable to get the manor above about 55mph whatever I do.

Any thoughts- I'm no eng file expert

Cheers

Chris Lees

RobertM · Post by **RobertM** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 11:52 pm

This may sound abit cheecky, but improve yor driving, I've got the Manor too 80mph, the DMU in the reigion of 50mph

RobertM

leezer3 · Post by **leezer3** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:24 am

My driving is fine :2gunfire:
(This is with 12 coaches!)
I might try a double-header, but I would have thought I should be able to get them to the reigon of 65-70mph with 12 coaches.

Cheers

Chris Lees

jonrach73 · Post by **jonrach73** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:36 am

This isn't loss of steam pressure is it? Look at the F5 view and check your steam production versus your steam generation.

For years I just struggled on with MSTS locos until recently I saw the posts about using the dampers (M) open them to 100% and also use a low enough reverser setting so that you keep your steam pressure up. Make sure the brakes are set to running and not released as this is another area which is inefficient on steam. Obviously there are times when you have to sacrifice the boiler in order to climb a hill / start from a standstill but you will find that even at low reverser settings, a healthy boiler pressure will get the loco to higher speeds... The Scotsman eng file lets you get away with steam murder! Other better set up eng files are much more realistic and dependent on good boiler pressure.

and apologies if you already do this!

Cheers

Jon

leezer3 · Post by **leezer3** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 12:35 pm

Nope, not loss of steam pressure, as the boiler is at max, and I'm generating about 1500 more than I'm using and running at 30% reverser. (Any further towards zero does nothing)
Oh, and the fireman is on auto, but manual isn't any better.

My suspicion is that the WSR locos have been optimised for the low speed running on the WSR, and not for full speed express running.
Typically, I don't know how to deal with this

Cheers

Chris Lees

davvydo · Post by **davvydo** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:42 pm

I fell that the manors are harder to drive than the other msts steamers, they may have underpowered the manors to give the illusion that washford bank is such a challenge, they want to get to the NYMR then !

growler37 · Post by **growler37** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 7:46 pm

Hi
i have got the manors up to 75mph, on GWR padington 2 penzance,
starting from penzance,i usually get up to speed before Hayle,
i use almost identical settings to jon, cant say i have noticed that they are
underpowered.
you could try asking the same question on the railwaves forum.

http://forum.alphatwofive.com/

regards,kevin

alisterbetts · Post by **alisterbetts** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:38 pm

I can't drive kettles for love nor money. Can't even get 60103 put of KX without stalling in the tunnel......

leezer3 · Post by **leezer3** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:43 pm

Little update on the matter- Tried the new eng files posted at the WSR forum a few days ago, and thats even worse

What happens with these is that my steam pressure is rapidly falling to and getting stuck at 146 PSI shortly after accelerating past 40 (I also loose the main chuff sound at this point, returns after I fall below 40). Also, having a quick comparison to the other GWR locos on the Highworth site, the steam usage seems much higher- I wonder if this is related.

Oh, are you using the default WSR consist, or are you running more (I'm using 12 cars, but it really should be going faster than this)

Chris Lees

Thrashin · Post by **Thrashin** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 9:57 pm

If this is wrong then I apologise... I recently made a consist with the ELR Class 40 and 12 WSR Quantock Belle coaches. The 40 would get to 60-ish after about a fortnight. Could the problem be the coaches?

leezer3 · Post by **leezer3** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:27 pm

Its the coaches

No idea why, but subbing in a rake of blue-grey MK1s means that engine accelerates nicely, and actually gets to the speed I expect it to. Anyone with any ideas on why?

Cheers

Chris Lees

OdneyManor · Post by **OdneyManor** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:34 pm

This may have completely nothing to do with the speed, but the wsr carriages have no hand brake, could that have anything to do with it?

Thrashin · Post by **Thrashin** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:10 pm

Is it not something to do with friction? I think I saw that somewhere on the forums. It could be set too high so it's easier to keep to 25mph...?

trainlover123 · Post by **trainlover123** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 9:14 pm

Check the weights are 34 Tons.

leezer3 · Post by **leezer3** » Sun Dec 11, 2005 10:50 pm

Mass is 37t, same as the blue-greys. I'm stumped

Chris Lees